Sharpsburg Family Raises Money to Help Others With Cancer

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 15 – A fund to help cancer patients in financial need at the Hillman Cancer Center is receiving significant support from a local family. Family and friends of Sharpsburg native Dee Dee Sacco have raised $55,000 this year alone for the UPMC Cancer Centers Patient Assistance Fund for Patient Care to help patients overcome financial barriers to completing their treatment by providing partial, short-term assistance with health care-related costs.

The Dee Dee Sacco Fight for Life Fund was developed in honor of Dee Dee, who died in November 2004 of sarcoma of the lung at the age of 33. Dee Dee’s family and friends have raised more than $85,000 during the past two years for patients at UPMC Cancer Centers with financial needs to help them with costs related to transportation, medical equipment, nutrition, prosthetic devices and lodging for themselves or their family members.

“We are extremely grateful to the Sacco family for their continued support for cancer patients in need,” said Barry C. Lembersky, MD, medical oncologist at UPMC Cancer Centers. “Many patients receiving cancer treatment experience a substantial loss of income due to both the disease and the therapy, creating an undue burden on those already in financial need. Some of these patients may make decisions to forego treatment with dire consequences for survival and quality of life.”

The family of Dee Dee Sacco and the board of the Dee Dee Sacco Fight for Life Fund will present the latest funds raised to UPMC Cancer Centers at a reception at the Hillman Cancer Center at 4:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 16.

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